As I’ve mentioned before, many plants and flowers of Japan have special meanings which symbolize power, health, longevity, loyalty and so on. Graphic images of plants are even used for creating family crests known as kamon. Interestingly, not only the images, but the trees themselves also contain special meanings.
The word ‘matsuri’ meaning a holiday comes from the word ‘matsu’, or pine tree in Japanese. There is no need to explain the association of a holiday with that evergreen tree as it’s quite common with some western traditions such as decorating Christmas trees and the more ancient worship of evergreen trees all over the world. In Japan, matsu is a symbol of courage, endurance and longevity. Pine trees seem to grow anywhere -- even on the rocky islands of Matsushima!
A traditional decoration for the New Year in Japan is ‘kadomatsu’, which contains the branches of matsu (a pine tree) and take (bamboo) - the symbol of eternal youth and strength. Bamboo groves are very beautiful and some of them are quite famous, such as Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto and the Kairakuen bamboo grove.
Another evergreen tree being worshiped in Japan is cedar, or sugi. Those huge trees can often be found in Shinto shrines, with sugi lining the ways to some important places -- for instance, the Zuihoden Mausoleum of Date Masamune in Sendai and the grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Nikko. Sugi is a symbol of power and longevity that now refers more to the memory of once powerful samurai clans.
Sakura is probably one of the most famous and favorite trees of Japan and is widely recognized as a symbol of the Japanese spirit. However, autumn is celebrated in Japan as much as spring and during those months come momiji, or Japanese maple and uchou, commonly known as the ginkgo tree. The season of red leaves is called koyo in Japanese and those red colors are usually courtesy of momiji. The golden-yellow hues of uchou are generally seen after the reds of momiji. Of course, that feast of colors is easy to notice in Japan, with their special aesthetics and love for natural beauty.
All the trees mentioned above can be seen on kamons. At Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture I noticed images of kaji, or a mulberry tree, which symbolizes health and prudence.
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Trees and nature are central to Shinto, a religion that originated in Japan, which holds that spirits inhabit trees that reach one hundred years of age. These tree spirits are known as kodama, and according to Japanese folklore, the kodama give the tree a personality.
What are the 5 sacred trees in Japan? ›
The “Kiso Goboku” is a group of five distinguished trees from the Kiso region, including Kiso hinoki. They consist of Hinoki, Sawara, Koya Maki, Asunaro, and Nezuko and are regarded among the finest trees in Japan. Masayuki-san masterfully and mindfully crafts inimitable vessels out of them all.
What is the famous tree in Japan called? ›
The Japanese word sakura (桜 or 櫻; さくら or サクラ) can mean either the tree or its flowers (see 桜). The cherry blossom is considered the national flower of Japan, and is central to the custom of hanami. Sakura trees are often called Japanese cherry in English.
What is the most important tree in Japan? ›
Sakura is probably one of the most famous and favorite trees of Japan and is widely recognized as a symbol of the Japanese spirit. However, autumn is celebrated in Japan as much as spring and during those months come momiji, or Japanese maple and uchou, commonly known as the ginkgo tree.
What is the sacred tree in Japanese culture? ›
Sugis are one of Japan's most well-loved sacred trees. Since they grow big and old, there are often near shrines, with a shimenwa tied around them to indicate their home for a kami.
What does the tree symbolize in culture? ›
Certain trees hold cultural and historical significance, representing heritage and traditions within a city. Ancient or heritage trees might symbolize wisdom, longevity and a connection to the past, emphasizing the importance of preserving history amid urban development.
What is the Japanese symbol for tree? ›
The Japanese kanji for “tree” is 木. The Kunyomi or the Japanese pronunciation of the Kanji 木 is “ki” (き) or “ko” (こ), and the Onyomi (Chinese) pronunciation is “boku” (ボク) or “moku” (モク).
How do people in Japan show their respect for trees? ›
As Japan is covered with an abundance of trees, everyday life in Japan has relied closely on wood. Trees have also influenced Japanese values. For example, from ancient times, Japanese people have loved plum and cherry blossoms and appreciated their beauty by creating poetry (waka, haiku) about them.
What tree is considered holy in Japan? ›
A shinboku (神木) is a tree or forest worshipped as a shintai – a physical object of worship at or near a Shinto shrine, worshipped as a repository in which spirits or kami reside. They are often distinctly visible due to the shimenawa wrapped around them.
What is the rarest tree in Japan? ›
Distribution and habitat. Chichibu birches are extremely rare in the wild, growing only on a handful of limestone outcrops in the mountains of the Japanese island of Honshu.
Kukunochi (久久能智神 – Tree Trunk Elder) is the kami of trees, the kami is also called Ki-no-kami, or Kuku-no-shi. He is the brother of Ōyamatsumi, Shimatsuhiko, and Watatsumi. It is possible Kukunochi was originally a tama that dwelled in trees.
Which Japanese tree is famous all over the world? ›
In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an important flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a symbol with rich meaning in Japanese culture.
What is the national tree of Japan? ›
The Japanese Cedar Tree (Cryptomeria japonica 'Yoshino') is the national tree of Japan. It can be found planted at many sacred sites, temples and shrines. It is also a large scale forestry tree.
What is a traditional Japanese tree? ›
Since ancient times, Sugi has been systematically planted in Japan and is the tree the Japanese people use most. Its uses are very diverse, including not only as building materials for housing, furniture, carvings, and crafts, but also barrels, pails, boats, and footwear, all of which require water resistance.
What is the Japanese tree of life? ›
The paulownia tree (in Latin paulowania), or paulonia, in the world also known as Princess tree, Kiri tree, tree of life, Adam tree, Empress tree, fox-glove tree, is a deciduous plant belonging to the Paulowniaceae family originally from China and for centuries also planted in Japan (Kiri in Japanese means "life"), ...
What is the tree symbol in Japanese? ›
The Japanese kanji for “tree” is 木.
Why is wood important in Japanese culture? ›
Shinto – the indigenous faith of the Japanese people – places a spiritual essence in all things: animals, plants, rocks and of course, wood. It's this belief in 'animism' that pushes Japanese woodworkers to work with, rather than against, nature.
